Khanna, Jitendra (North Vancouver, CA)
Williams, Desmond (North Vancouver, CA)

05/399371

07/08/1975

09/21/1973

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False Creek Industries Ltd. (Vancouver, CA)

222/181.300

383/67, 383/76, 222/528, 383/18, 383/41

B65D88/16; B66C1/22; B65D88/00; B67D5/64

150/1,2 222/105,185,528,530

Reeves, Robert B.

Scherbel, David A.

Fetherstonhaugh & Co.

We claim

1. Transporting container apparatus for a flexible transporting container in the form of a bag having a top and a tube-like bottom foldable over and across the bottom area of the bag and upwardly along a first wall thereof, said bottom having a free outer end, said container apparatus including a cradle comprising a first section extending from near the top of the bag down along a second wall thereof opposed to said first wall and over said bottom to extend therewith upwardly along said first wall and beyond said free end of the bottom, a second section overlying said first wall near the top of the bag and positioned clear of the bottom when the latter is in the folded-over position and extending towards said bottom, lifting means connected to said first section and said second section near the top of the bag, and releasable latch means between and coacting with said first section and said second section releasably to secure said sections together, said latch means when unreleased and said first section preventing the bag bottom from straightening out to discharge material from the bag when the latter is supported by means of the cradle.

2. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second sections of the cradle are formed of a plurality of high breaking strain web straps.

3. Containter apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means for slidably connecting the web straps of the first section to said bottom of the bag and the web straps of the second section to said first wall.

4. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said lifting means comprises loops on the web straps of the first section and the second section near the top of the bag by means of which the cradle can be suspended.

5. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means releasably connecting each of said web straps to the bag near the top thereof.

6. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including an additional web strap extending around the bag and having ends secured to said second section.

7. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including a plurality of loops secured to the bag and through which said additional web strap extends.

8. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a plurality of loops secured to said second wall and said bottom section through which web straps of the first section extend, and a plurality of loops on said first wall through which web straps of the second section extend.

9. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said releasable latch comprises a first plate secured to one of said sections, a second plate secured to the other of said sections to overlap said first plate when the bag bottom is folded over the first wall, a slot in the first plate, a tongue with an opening therein near an outer end thereof, said tongue being secured to the second plate and positioned to extend through said slot when the plates are overlapped, and pin means engageable with the tongue through the opening thereof when said tongue extends through the slot of the first plate releasably to prevent relative movement of the plates away from each other.

10. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 9 including seat means on the second plate upon which a portion of the first plate rests when said plates are overlapped.

11. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 9 including separator means adapted to rest between said overlapped plates and to project from between the plates near said tongue, whereby the projecting portion of said separator means can be moved to separate the plates and shift the first plate off the torque of the second plate.

12. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which said first and second sections of the cradle are formed of a plurality of high breaking strain web straps, said web straps of the first section being connected to the first plate near a lower edge thereof, and said web straps of the second section being connected to the second plate near a top edge thereof.

13. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including seat means on the second plate near a lower edge thereof upon which said lower edge of the first plate rests when said plates are overlapped.

14. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including an additional web strap extending around the bag and having ends secured to the second plate near side edges thereof.

15. Transporting container apparatus including a container in the form of a bag having a closable top, first and second opposed walls, a tube-like bottom connected to said walls and foldable over and across the bottom area of the bag and upwardly along said first wall; and a cradle fitting around said bag and comprising a first section extending from near the top of the bag down along said second wall thereof and over said bottom to extend therewith upwardly along said first wall, a second section overlying said first wall near the top of the bag, lifting means connected to said first section and said second section near the top of the bag by means of which said apparatus can be lifted, releasable latch means extending between and coacting with said first section and second section releasably to secure said sections together, said latch means, when unreleased, and said first section preventing the bag bottom from straightening out to discharge material from the bag when the latter is supported by means of the cradle.

16. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which said first and second sections of the cradle are formed of a plurality of high breaking strain web straps.

17. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including means for slidably connecting the web straps of the first section to said bottom of the bag and the web straps of the second section to said first wall.

18. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said lifting means comprises loops on the web straps of the first section and the second section near the top of the bag by means of which the cradle can be suspended.

19. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said releasable latch comprises a first plate secured to one of said sections, a second plate secured to the other of said sections to overlap said first plate when the bag bottom is folded over the first wall, a slot in the first plate, a tongue with an opening therein near an outer end thereof, said tongue being secured to the second plate and positioned to extend through said slot when the plates are overlapped, and pin means engageable with the tongue through the opening thereof when said tongue extends through the slot of the first plate releasably to prevent relative movement of the plates away from each other.

20. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 19 including seat means on the second plate upon which a portion of the first plate rests when said plates are overlapped.

21. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 19 including separator means adapted to rest between said overlapped plates and to project from between the plates near said torque, whereby the projection portion of said separator means can be moved to separate the plates and shift the first plate off the tongue of the second plate.

22. container apparatus as claimed in claim 19 in which said first and second sections of the cradle are formed of a plurality of high breaking strain web straps, said web straps of the first section being connected to the first plate near a lower edge thereof, and said web straps of the second section being connected to the second plate near a top edge thereof.

23. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 22 including seat means on the second plate near a lower edge thereof upon which said lower edge of the first plate rests when said plates are overlapped.

24. Container apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including a lifting frame, a plurality of hooks, and spaced-apart flexible suspension means connecting the hooks to the frame along opposite sides thereof, said hooks being positioned by the frame substantially over the loops of the straps of the first section and the second section to engage said loops, whereby when said bag is lifted by means of the frame the flexible suspension means of the hooks ensures the lift force being in line with the respective straps of said loops.

This invention relates to transporting apparatus for moving material in particulate form, and particularly materials such as ore concentrates, cement, fertilizer, bentonite, iron pellets, and other materials that are shipped in bulk form.

This transporting container apparatus is particularly designed for heavy particulate material, such as ore concentrates, and for the sake of convenience will be described herein relative to ore concentrates. However, it is to be understood that this transporting container apparatus can be used for any particulate, granular, or bulk transportable material.

The present invention consists of a cradle for a flexible bag container particularly designed for high specific gravity particulate material, and a combination of the cradle and container. The flexible bag alone is the subject matter of another patent application Ser. No. 290,108, filed Sept. 18, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,471.

The prior bag container functions very well alone, but when subjected to heavy loads and rough handling, there is a tendency towards excessive wear, tear, damage and in some cases failure to meet an adequate safety standard. The weaknesses of the bag container include an undue distribution of weight and stress on one of the walls of the bag, weakness wherever sewing occurs which results in perforation of the bag fabric, and poor stress distribution at the top of the bag when the latter is being lifted by means of loops at the top of the bag.

The present invention overcomes these weaknesses of difficulties by providing a cradle into which the bag or container is fitted. This cradle is made up of very strong web straps, such as, for example, nylon webbing having a break strength something of the order of 10,000 lbs. The latching mechanism of the container forms part of the cradle. The web straps are connected to the bag through loops or channels which can be adhesively secured to the material of the bag since they are not subjected to undue strain.

Transporting container apparatus according to the present invention is designed for a flexible transporting container in the form of a bag having a top and a tube-like bottom foldable over and across the bottom area of the bag and upwardly along a first wall thereof. The container apparatus includes a cradle comprising a first section adapted to extend from near the top of the bag, down along a second wall thereof opposed to said first wall and over said bottom to extend therewith upwardly along said first wall, a second section adapted to overlie said first wall near the top of the bag, releasable latch means coacting between said first section and said second section releasably to secure said sections together, said latch means when unreleased and said first section preventing the bag bottom from straightening out to discharge material from the bag when the latter is supported by means of the cradle.

In a more specific form of the invention, the transporting container apparatus includes a container in the form of a bag having a closable top, first and second opposed walls, a tube-like bottom connected to said walls and foldable over and across the bottom area of the bag and upwardly along the first wall; and a cradle fitting around said bag and comprising a first section adapted to extend from near the top of the bag down along said second wall thereof and over said bottom to extend therewith upwardly along said first wall, a second section adapted to overlie said first wall near the top of the bag, and releasable latch means coacting between said first section and said second section releasably to secure said sections together, said latch means when unreleased and said first section preventing the bag bottom form straightening out to discharge material from the bag when the latter is supported by means of the cradle.

A preferred form of transporting container apparatus in accordance with this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the transporting container apparatus as viewed from one side and in fully opened position,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but viewing the apparatus from the opposite side,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of one member of the latch of this apparatus,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the other member of the latch,

FIG. 6 shows the latch members of FIGS. 4 and 5 together in their latching positions,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is a view of the container apparatus loaded, closed and being lifted by means of a special lifting frame,

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the cradle of the container apparatus in the closed position, but with the container or bag removed,

FIG. 11 shows one way of supporting the container apparatus during loading thereof,

FIG. 12 showing the loaded container apparatus resting on a flat surface, and

FIG. 13 is a view of the suspended loaded container apparatus, but showing the bottom section unlatched and moving towards the open position.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a transporting container apparatus in accordance with this invention which includes a tube-like flexible bag 12 and a cradle 14. It is to be understood that this container apparatus includes the cradle alone and/or the combination of the bag and cradle.

Bag or container 12 has an open top 20 and an open bottom 21. Although bag 12 may be any desired cross-sectional shape, such as circular or oval, it is preferably substantially rectangular in cross section when empty, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Bag 12 has a peripheral wall 24. This peripheral wall is made up of a front or first wall 26, and opposed back or second wall 27, and opposed inwardly foldable side walls 28 and 29. Container or bag 12 has a tubelike bottom 30 aligned with and connected to the lower end of peripheral wall 24. Bottom section 30 is formed with front and back panels 32 and 33, and inwardly foldable side panels 34 and 35. It is preferable to make bag 12 and bottom 30 of a single piece of suitable flexible material so that its various walls and panels are integrally connected. Bottom 30 is formed with a panel or extension 38 connected to the free edge of bottom panel 33.

When it is desired to close the bottom of bag 12, bottom panels 34 and 35 are folded inwardly to bring front and back panels 32 and 33 together. This is done while the bag is empty, and is helped by pressing bag walls 28 and 29 inwardly. Then the bottom sections 32 and 33 are folded across the bottom of the bag, as shown in FIG. 9, and bottom section or panel 38 is folded up along the outer surface of wall 26. Thus, when the bag is filled, the load presses botom sections or walls 32 and 33 together to help seal the bottom of the bag.

Suitable cover means and fastening means are provided for container or bag 12. In this example, the bag is formed with a tubular cover section 42 which is actually an extension of the bag itself. Although not absolutely necessary, each of the panels or walls of the cover section is in the form of a truncated triangle so that the cover section tapers inwardly to an opening 43 which is smaller than the open top of the bag proper. A cord 45 may be laced through openings 46 in the top of the cover section so that when the cord is drawn, the walls of the cover section close opening 43. Then the cover section is folded or rolled in the manner shown at 48 in FIG. 9 to close off completely the top of bag 12, and the cover section is retained in this position in any convenient manner. In this example, a plurality of resilient straps 50 are secured at one end thereof by tabs 51 to the cover section at one side thereof, and have hooks 52 at their opposite ends. Tabs 54 having grommets therein are secured to the opposite side of the cover section. The resilient straps 50 are stretched across the top of the folded or rolled cover section and are connected to tabs 54 by hooks 52.

Cradle 14 is made up of a first section 60 and a second section 61. First section 60 consists of a plurality of web straps 65. In this example there are three of these straps, which start near the top 20 of bag 12, extend down wall 27, bottom section 33, bottom flap 38, and beyond the latter as indicated at 66 in FIGS. 1 and 2. These straps may be fixedly connected to the bag, but they are preferably slidably connected thereto in any desirable manner, and in this example, they are slidably connected to wall 27 by a plurality of loops 68 which are adhesively secured to the wall, and are slidably connected to said wall and bottom wall 33 and bottom section 38 by tubular loops 70, one for each strap, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. Second section 61 of the cradle consists of a plurality of web straps 74, there being three of these straps shown in FIG. 1, and extending along the upper portion of wall 26. These straps are preferably slidably connected to the adjacent wall by loops 75. By referring to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the ends 66 of straps 65 are adjacent the ends 77 of straps 74 when the bottom of the bag is closed with bottom flap 38 extending upwardly along bag wall 26. A latch 80 releasably secures these adjacent ends of the cradle together when the bottom of the bag is closed.

Latch 80 consists of a member or plate 82 having a slot 84 therein near edge 85 thereof. Depressions 87 are formed in a face of plate 82. The bottoms of these depressions are formed by tongues 88 which project outwardly a little from the edge 89 of the plate opposite its edge 85. By referring to FIG. 7, it will be seen that tongues 88 are offset outwardly a little relative to the back of plate 82. Straps 65 of first section 60 of the cradle extend through slots 90 in plate 82 and are looped back on themselves to form loops 91 sewn or adhesively secured to the main bodies of the straps.

Latch 80 also includes another member or plate 95 having a plurality of seats 96 formed on its outer face near its edge 97.

An additional web strap 98 forms part of cradle 14 and extends horizontally around bag 12 through loops 99 thereof. The ends of strap 98 extend through slots 100 in plate 95 adjacent the side edges thereof. Strap 98 may pass over or under straps 65, but it is preferable to extend it through loops 100 formed on these straps by folding end portion thereof back over the straps themselves and securing these together, or if desired, by securing pieces of strap material to these straps.

Straps 74 of second section 61 of the cradle extend through slots 102 formed in plate 95 adjacent its edge 103. A tongue 104 projects outwardly from plate 95 and is positioned to extend through slot 84 of plate 82 when this plate overlaps plate 95 with tongues 88 fitting into or resting on seats 96. Tongue 104 has an opening 105 therein near its outer end.

Latch 80 is closed when plates 82 and 95 are overlapped with tongue 104 projecting through slot 84. Suitable means is provided for releasably locking the plates together, and in this example, a pin 108 is provided for this purpose, said pin being connected to plate 95 by a relatively long cord 109.

Separator means is provided to fit between plates 82 and 95, and in this example, the separator means is in the form of a loop 112, the main part of which fits between the plates, said loop having a projection 113 which extends out from between the plates. A cord 115 connects projection 113 to pin 108.

As stated above, pin 108 locks plates 82 and 95 together. When this pin is withdrawn by any suitable means, such as by means of a lanyard 118, see FIG. 9, the latch is released and there is nothing to stop plate 82 from falling away from plate 95 under the weight of the load in bag 12 on the tubular bottom thereof. However, if the plates do remain together, a further pull on the lanyard pulls the separator loop 112 outwardly through cord 115 to pry plate 82 away from plate 95.

Each of the web straps 65 is formed with a loop 125 on its end near the top of bag 12. Similarly, each of the web straps 74 is formed with a loop 128 on its end near the top of the bag. As the loops 125 and 128 are identical, one only, namely loop 128, will now be described in detail. Each loop 128 is actually a double loop with an outer loop 132 side by side with an inner loop 133, see FIG. 3. A cord or cable 136 extends around the top of the bag and through the outer loops of the loops 125 and 128. This cable also extends through an elongated tubular flap 138 which extends around the top of the bag and is secured to the upper edges of the bag walls 26, 27, 28 and 29, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This tubular flap has cut away portions 139 therein to expose those portions of cable 136 extending through the adjacent outer loops 132 of the cradle, and so as to hold these loops in close to the bag.

When it is desired to load container apparatus 10, the bottom of bag 12 is folded over as explained above, and latch 80 is closed, that is, plate 82 is placed over plate 85 with tongue 104 projecting through slot 84, and pin 108 inserted through hole 105 of the tongue. The apparatus is then suspended by means of loops 125 and 128 in any suitable manner for loading. FIG. 11 illustrates by way of example one form of apparatus for loading the bag. The container apparatus is suspended by means of a plurality of cables 145 which travel over pulleys 146 and 147 and have counterbalance weights 148 connected to the ends thereof. Cables 145 have hooks 148 on the ends thereof which engage the loop 125 and 128 of container 10. Cover section 42 is placed around a spout 150, and cord 45 is drawn to tighten the cover around the spout. Following this, the particulate material is directed into the bag through spout 150, and as the weight in the bag increases, container apparatus 10 moves downwardly until it rests on a support 154, as shown in FIG. 12. The container apparatus can now be released from cables 145. FIG. 12 illustrates how the contents of the bag rest on the folded-over bottom 30 thereof so that the weight of the contents helps to seal the bag.

FIG. 9 illustrates a lifting frame 160 by means of which container 10 can be lifted without undue strain on cradle 14 or bag 12.

Lifting frame 160 includes a central bar 164 with crossbars 165 and 166 connected to the ends thereof. Hooks 168 are suspended from bar 165 in any suitable manner, such as by chains 169, while hooks 172 are similarly suspended by chains 173 from bar 166. A lifting loop 175 is provided on bar 164 centrally thereof, and fork lift lugs 176 and 177 are secured to frame 160 at opposite ends of bar 164 and over bars 165 and 166.

As there are three web straps 74 and three web straps 65, the lifting frame is provided with three hooks 168 for the straps 74, and three hooks 172 for the straps 65. It will be noted that the central strap 74 extends straight up towards the lifting frame, while the two side straps 74 splay outwardly from this central strap. Hooks 168 are self-positioning as chains 169 line up with the respective straps 74 to which they are connected through loops 128. Similarly, the central strap 65 extends straight up, while the two side straps 65 splay outwardly. Chains 173 line up with the respective straps 65 to which they are connected through loops 125. With this arrangement, when container 10 is lifted by means of loop 175, such as by a crane hook 180, as shown in FIG. 9, or by a fork lift engaging lift lugs 176 and 177, the container is completely balanced relative to lift frame 160, and all of the pull is straight down the web straps 65 and 74. As these straps are connected to the two plates of latch 80, none of the lift strain is placed on the fabric of bag 12. As all of the straps are preferably slidably connected to the bag through loops, the bag can adjust itself to the straps without any part of the bag being subjected to undue strain. Cradle 14 in effect completely surrounds the bag and is connected to lifting frame 160 so that it takes all of the lifting strain. In addition to this, the bag is braced against the load contained in it by the web straps that extend in effect from near the top of one side of the bag down that side, across the bag bottom, and up to near the top of the opposite side of the bag. The additional web strap 98 provides a horizontal reinforcement completely around the bag. In addition to this, cable 136 extending through the outer loops 132 of the loops 125 and 128 holds these loops in place without putting any strain on to bag 12. The lengths of central bar 164 and crossbars 165 and 166 of lifting frame 160 ensure that the lift force applied to all of the loops 125 and 128 are from above said loops and is in line with their respective straps 65 and 74.

When it is desired to unload container 10, it is suspended, and then lanyard 118 is pulled to withdraw pin 108 from tongue 104. Normally the weight of the material in the bag and resting on the bottom thereof will pull plate 82 away from plate 95. However, in order to be sure that these plates part immediately, a further pull on lanyard 118 pulls loop 112 away from plate 95, and this levers plate 82 away from said plate. The tubular bottom 30 of the bag drops downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2, at which time the contents of the bag flow out of it. Actually, the particulate material starts to shift downwardly the moment latch 80 is released and bottom flap 38 swings downwardly, as shown in FIG. 13.

In container apparatus 10, bag 12 holds the particulate material, while cradle 14 braces the sides and bottom of the bag to help these elements resist the natural tendency of the material to spread outwardly. In addition, the cradle takes the full lifting force so that the bag fabric is not subjected to undue strain at any time.